IRVING, TEXAS (December 2010) - The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) Board of Directors elected James Cassels to serve as chair and Chris Arrington to serve as vice-chair effective immediately. Cassels moves into the position previously held by Dr. Carlton Turner, who served as chair since December 2009. Both Cassels and Arrington have served on the ICVB board since December 2007, with Cassels most recently serving as vice-chair, and Arrington as the chair of the Board's Community Relations Committee, and vice-chair of its Board Development Committee.

Cassels is a 73-year Texas resident and a 10-year Irving resident. For 35 years, Cassels owned Texas International Aviation, an aircraft sales business with warehouses in Australia, Ireland, France, Israel and several locations throughout the United States. Cassels retired and sold the business in 1998.

Cassels' volunteer leadership history includes a term as chair of the House Committee for the Las Colinas Country Club and serving as the club's president in 2009. He currently serves on the Irving Healthcare Foundation Board, has chaired Irving Cares' Great Harvest event and continues to volunteer weekly with Irving Cares. Prior to his move to Irving, Cassels served on the Grand Prairie Adjustments and Appeals Board for two years, the Planning and Zoning Board for four years, was a founding member of Grand Prairie Country Club and was club president for one year. Cassels also served on the boards for Republic National Bank and Riverside Bank during his residency in Grand Prairie.

Cassels and Arrington both held positions on the 2006 City of Irving Bond Committee.

Throughout his 25-year Irving residency, Arrington has served and volunteered with the Irving Healthcare Foundation Board for eight years, the Irving Humane Society Board for five years, Irving Schools Foundation for six years, Farine Elementary and MacArthur High School Campus Improvement Committees (CIC), Irving Soccer Association, Irving Bible Church's Indoor Soccer Teams for eight years, and Irving Cares.

Arrington is national account manager for BD Medical, a Diabetes Care Business Unit in Irving, and works with the Texas Diabetes Council Work Committee and the Diabetes Coalition of Texas. He has held national, regional and local leadership positions with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and previously served as the ADA Walkathon chair. Arrington is a 43-year Texas resident.

The ICVB Board of Directors, comprised of 11 voting and seven non-voting members, is a policy-making body that oversees bureau operations, including the new Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas. Board members are appointed by the Irving City Council for up to three two-year renewable terms.